Conducting rail and adapter for supplying electrical appliance

ABSTRACT

A low-voltage conducting rail and adapter assembly acting at the same time as a mechanical support for lighting spots and other electrical appliances. The adapter comprises two rigid conducting arms forming a clamp on the two U-sections of which the rail is made, and an insulating member linking the conducting arms and being part of the fixing arrangement for the electrical appliance.

ilnite States atent Le ir [75] Inventor: Helene Marie Le Hir, Blanc- Mesnil, France [73] Assignee: MauriceSoquenne,Neuilly-Sur 7,7 ,Ma f aneew r M [22] Filed: Feb. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 333,160

[52] U.S. Cl. 339/21 R, 200/51 [51] Int. Cl H01! 9/00 [58] Field of Search 339/20, 21 R, 21 S, 22 T, 339/23, 24; 200/51 R, 51.07, 51 LM; 307/114, 115

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,218,545 10/1940 Morten 339/21 R 3,551,618 12/1970 Seelbachm. 200/51 3,553,398 1/1971 Seelbach 200/51 CONDUCTING RAIL AND ADAPTER FOR SUPPLYING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 10,363 4/1901 Great Britain 339/21 S 1,106,293 7/1955 France 339/21 R Primary ExaminerBobby R. Gay

Assistant Examiner-Robert A. l-lafer Attorney, Agent, or FirmCushman, Darby & Cushman ABSCT A low-voltage conducting rail and adapter assembly acting at the same time as a mechanical support for lighting spots and other electrical appliances.

The adapter comprises two rigid conducting arms forming a clamp on the two U-sections of which the rail is made, and an insulating member linking the conducting arms and being part of the fixing arrangement for the electrical appliance.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CONDUCTDIG RAIL AND ADAPTER FOR SUPPLYING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE The invention concerns a miniature unit comprising a low-voltage current-conducting rail, acting at the same time as a mechanical support for spotlights, or any other working equipment.

Lighting equipment on conductor rails of well-known types are adapted for different uses with electrical primary current of 110 or 220 volts. These appliances have one major disadvantage, they generate consider able heat, which excludes their use near objects which are sensitive to heat, such as foodstuffs, synthetic materials in cloth, artistic objects, etc... Some manufacturers of lightingpoles have tried to remedy this state of affairs by incorporating a transformer in the lightingpole and by using 12 or 24 V. bulbs. However, the unit thus constituted is bulky and heavy, and the fact that it is supplied with the 1 or 220 volt current requires that the usual precautions for human safety must be taken.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate these disadvantages wherein the transformer is upstream from the system which is supplied therefore by low-voltage current enabling a miniature electrical installation to be fitted, providing nevertheless a possible current of 60 Amperes.

According to the invention, a device used for supplying electric current to at least one electrical appliance, comprises at least one rail adapted for conducting lowvoltage current is formed of two U-sections, assembled back to back in an H-section insulating member. At least one detachable adapter is provided comprising electric contact means and fixing means for attaching the appliance, and connecting means for the said rails, charaterized in that the said adapter comprises two rigid conducting arms forming a clamp which is at one end in contact with the sides of the U-sections, and a further insulating member at the other end of the said clamp, the said further insulating member forming part of the said fixing means and having currentsupply conductors connected to the said arms passing therethrough.

According to a preferred embodiment, one of the wings of the said insulating member comprises longitudinal grooves, auxiliary conductors being housed in the said grooves and the supply of current to each of these auxiliary conductors controlling a relay adapted for closing the supply circuit of at least one of the electrical appliances.

The description below, along with the annexed drawings given as a non-limitative example, will illustrate how the invention can be embodied.

FIG. 1 illustrates a device in accordance with the invention, shown in a cross-section at right angles to the rail surface along line 11, FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section of the device along line lIIIlI of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the device along line IIII of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates diagrammatically how the adapter could supply a lamp.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of means for connecting the rails together.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification of the connecting means.

The rail is constituted (FIGS. 1 and 4) by two conductors 1 and 2 in U-shaped form insulated from each other by a I-I-section member 4 of insulating material, and assembled at several points by screws of insulating material 3 and adapted to be fixed on various types of supports, for instance by means of screws 5a (FIGS. 1 and 2). The conductors are supplied with very lowvoltage current (12 or 24 V.) by means of a transformer, itself supplied with mains current (1 10 or 220 V). Apart from its two main conductors, (l and 2), the rail in the specific example illustrated, comprises six auxiliary conductors (6a, b, c, d, e, j) housed in grooves formed in the insulating member 4 and connected to a pole on the transformer by means of six switches 12 (hence the possibility of supplying current to each one of them separately).

These switches may be grouped together in a control box 12, for example. The arms 7 and 8 together with the insulating member 15 which links them, constitute means for fixing the working unit onto the rail, while at the same time they are ensuring the electric contact with the corresponding half-rail (7 with l, and 8 with 2). The arms 7 and 8 are normally pushed apart from each other by means of a spring 19 which is mounted about an axis 19a controlled by a milled button 1%. By screwing of the button 19b, the lower ends of arms 7 and 8 are engaged into the respective U-sections 1 and 2. The arm 7 is connected to the working appliances earth 16 which acts also as an earth for relay 10 (FIG. 4). A screw 20 ensures electric contact between arm 8 and the conductor 20a (FIGS. 2 and 4) which crosses insulating member 15 in a holder tube 9 secured by means of a female screw 20c (FIG. 2). By using a rotative selector 11 which is electrically connected at 13 to the remote control conductor (FIGS. 2 and 4) and is controlled by a button 17 which controls an axis 17a mounted across member 15 and ending in a contact point 11a which exerts a pressure due to the action of a spring 18 (FIG. 2), it is possible to choose between the six auxiliary conductor cables (take 6b, for example), and so, when the corresponding switch is turned on, the relay l0 closes the circuit 2, 8, and 14 (FIG. 4), the lamp 14 lights up and all the lamps, for which the adapter has been preselectioned for circuit 12, also light up, it being obvious that the two main conductors, l and 2, are permanently supplied with current.

The arms 7 8 and the current-conducting parts of the rail will preferably be made of aluminium and all connections with the parts or wires made of copper will preferably be made through bi-metal plates, ie, a Cu-Al alloy.

When it is a question of setting up an electric installation with the above disclosed device, many junction circuits have to be effected and it is essential to have available a simple and practical connection device.

When examining FIG. 5, a connection device in the form of cube is illustrated; it is composed of two metal parts, 21 and 22, separated by an insulating plate 23.

The four sides of the metal plates, 21 and 22, are equipped with cylindrical orifices 24.

These orifices 24 are designed to take the pins 25 on the straps 26, which, on assembly, are inserted into each of the conducting rails 27, and will be tightened to form one piece by means of screws 28. In order to avoid any possibility of a short-circuit, an insulating plate 29 will be placed between the rail 27 and the connection part. This plate comprises orifices allowing the pins 25 to pass through.

A modification of the connection device is illustrated in FIG. 6. It comprises two metal parts, 31 and 32, each one comprising a number of slits 33; parts 31 and 32 are insulated from each other by means of a small plate 34.

The slits 33 of parts 31 and 32 are designed to take the end 35 of the straps 36, which will be placed on the rails to be connected.

In this second embodiment, the ends 35 are squaresectioned. When the ends 35 are in place on the slits 33, the whole will be covered by a plate 37 which is kept tightened, and a screw 38 on each of the parts 31 and 32 will then ensure that the unit is locked in position.

It is understood that the rails to be connected are insulated from the connection device by means of an insulating plate 39.

In this second embodiment, it is obvious that the machining tolerance of parts 31, 32 and 36 is considerable, which makes it possible to obtain a low cost price.

The invention can be applied for a wide range of uses, notably for multiple-purpose lighting systems, where the position of the lighting units can be changed instantly and the number working at the same time be modified.

I claim:

1. A device used for supplying electric current to at least one electrical appliance, comprising at least one rail assembly adapted for conducting low-voltage current and formed of two U-shaped rails, assembled back to back in an H-shaped insulating member, at least one detachable adapter comprising electric contact means and fixing means for attaching the appliance and connecting means for said rails, wherein said adapter comprises two rigid conducting arms forming a clamp which is at one end in contact with the sides of the U- shaped rails, and a further insulating member at the other end of the said clamp, said further insulating member forming part of said fixing means and having current-supply conductors passing therethrough connected to the said arms.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein one of the wings of the said insulating member comprises longitudinal grooves, auxiliary conductors being housed in the said grooves and the supply of current to each of these auxiliary conductors controlling a relay adapted for closing the supply circuit of at least one of the electrical appliances.

3. A' device according to claim 2, wherein said adapter is equipped with a selective needle, said needle being rotatable for connecting said relay to any one of the said auxiliary conductors, wherein the remote c0ntrolled energization of any one of the auxiliary conductors in turn controlling the operation of those electrical appliances whose corresponding needle is placed on the selected auxiliary conductor.

4. A device for supplying electric current to and supporting at least one electrical appliance, said device comprising at least one rail assembly formed of two U- shaped sections assembled back to back in an l-l-shaped insulating member, an electrical input circuit connected to said Ushaped sections, at least one detachable adapter comprising electric contact means, and mechanical means for fixedly supporting said appliance, wherein said adapter comprises two rigid conducting arms articulated in an insulating member, said insulating member forming with said conducting arms a clamp, trapezoidal projections at the inner ends of the said arms, said projections being engaged in the respective inner recesses of the respective U-shaped sections, means for mechanically tightening the conducting arms of the clamp so as to provide a contact pressure and to lock said projections into said recesses, at least one aperture in said insulating member for passage therethrough of at least one lead connected to one of the said arms, and means for rigidly attaching an electrical appliance to said clamp.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein one of the wings of the H-shaped insulating member comprises longitudinal grooves, auxiliary conductors housed in said grooves, means for selectively applying a control current to selected ones of the auxiliary conductors, relay means having a movable contact connecting said lead to said arm and said electrical input circuit, and connecting means for selectively connecting said electrical input circuit to any one of the auxiliary conductors.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said connecting means include a rotatable selection needle.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE M QQRRECTEON Patent No. Q 1 2,672 Dated August 27, 197 r Inventor(s) Helene Marie Le Hir rs in the above-identified patent It is certified that error appea by corrected as shown below:

and that said Letters Patent are here In the heading:

Please add --[30] Foreign Application Priority Date.

July 25, 1972 France 2.267%

h day of February 1975.

Signed and sealed this at (SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Coissioner of Patents 

1. A device used for supplying electric current to at least one electrical appliance, comprising at least one rail assembly adapted for conducting low-voltage current and formed of two Ushaped rails, assembled back to back in an H-shaped insulating member, at least one detachable adapter comprising electric contact means and fixing means for attaching the appliance and connecting means for said rails, wherein said adapter comprises two rigid conducting arms forming a clamp which is at one end in contact with the sides of the U-shaped rails, and a further insulating member at the other end of the said clamp, said further insulating member forming part of said fixing means and having current-supply conductors passing therethrough connected to the said arms.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein one of the wings of the said insulating member comprises longitudinal grooves, auxiliary conductors being housed in the said grooves and the supply of current to each of these auxiliary conductors controlling a relay adapted for closing the supply circuit of at least one of the electrical appliances.
 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said adapter is equipped with a selective needle, said needle being rotatable for connecting said relay to any one of the said auxiliary conductors, wherein the remote controlled energization of any one of the auxiliary conductors in turn controlling the operation of those electrical appliances whose corresponding needle is placed on the selected auxiliary conductor.
 4. A device for supplying electric current to and supporting at least one electrical appliance, said device comprising at least one rail assembly formed of two U-shaped sections assembled back to back in an H-shaped insulating member, an electrical input circuit connected to said U-shaped sections, at least one detachable adapter comprising electric contact means, and mechanical means for fixedly supporting said appliance, wherein said adapter comprises two rigid conducting arms articulated in an insulating member, said insulating member forming with said conducting arms a clamp, trapezoidal projections at the inner ends of the said arms, said projections being engaged in the respective inner recesses of the respective U-shaped sections, means for mechanically tightening the conducting arms of the clamp so as to provide a contact pressure and to lock said projections into said recesses, at least one aperture in said insulating member for passage therethrough of at least one lead connected to one of the said arms, and means for rigidly attaching an electrical appliance to said clamp.
 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein one of the wings of the H-shaped insulating member comprises longitudinal grooves, auxiliary conductors housed in said grooves, means for selectively applying a control current to selected ones of the auxiliary conductors, relay means having a movable contact connecting said lead to said arm and said electrical input circuit, and connecting means for selectively connecting Said electrical input circuit to any one of the auxiliary conductors.
 6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said connecting means include a rotatable selection needle. 